To sit for licensure, PT candidates must graduate from an accredited PT program. Physical Therapists must be licensed in order to practice. FGCU's Physical Therapy program is the only accredited PT program between Tampa and Miami.

Ellen K. Williamson, PT, MS, chair of the physical therapy program, remarked "We are delighted at the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) decision. We hope the strong support voiced by the APTA will set the stage for many, many years of innovation and excellence in PT education in Southwest Florida."

"Physical therapy is all about results. Clinical sites at which our students have interned have unanimously applauded our students' preparednessand knowledge. That kind of praise really tells us that the program is headed in the right direction," added Williamson.

Florida Gulf Coast University offers a Post Baccalaureate Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy. The Physical Therapy program has followed the set timeline for seeking accreditation with CAPTE. A CAPTE site visit inJanuary 2001 received an extremely positive response from the site evaluators on a self-study and their on-campus review experience.

Dr. Cecelia Rokusek, FGCU Dean of the College of Health Professions commented that the PT program received one of the strongest reviews from theCommission that she has seen.